Illuminated note-pad.



T. ROBINS.

ILLUMINATED NOTE PAD.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24. 1912.

Patented July 6, 1915.

. THOMAS ROBINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATED NOTE-PAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.ratmtea July c, rare.

Application filed October 24, 191%. Serial No. 727,554.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l, THOMAS Bonus, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Note-Pads, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates more particularly to a writing tablet suitable for ready use at night by ones bedside or elsewhere and hav- 1 ing a tablet-lighting device provided with a controller preferably operable by one hand while holdin the tablet in that hand.

The princlpal objects are to render the tablet convenient for instant use and to combine in such a tablet ready and easy means to permit the removal and replacement of an electric battery and of a writing pad when desired, the entire article or tablet being compact, simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The preferred form of my invention has a combined tablet support and battery case provided with a resiliently retained easily removable cover having on its exterior side a manual controller for the lighting device.

In the drawings :Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the tablet; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the tablet when held in the left hand, the pencil being removed; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show side views of modified forms of the same; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a detail of the battery case and cover of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows detail of the same battery case.

The improved writing tablet in its preferred form Figs. 1 and 2 has a sheet-metal leather-covered back or support B to which the writing pad or tablet proper and the battery may be readily attached. At the head end of the tablet the sheet metal is rolled into a hollow cylinder left free to spring and only partly soldered so as to resiliently encircle, embrace and hold a cylindrical battery cell of commercial type and size. The corners of the sheet are slightly inturned as at H in Fig. 7 for reasons later explained. The details of the necessary electrical connections, switch, contacts, battery and lamp E need not be described in detail. The light from lamp E is thrown on the pad and a shade F is preferably provided. The battery case C is of course so shaped as to hold whatever form of battery it is desi ed to contain. It is provided with covers G at each endwhich have interiorly projecting flanges H Fig. 6, which coact with the cylindrical wall of the battery case C and are enc rcled and held in place b friction and resilience yet permit the rea y removal of the covers when desired. The flange H is reduced annularly forming a groove at the point H so that by inturning the two corners of the case as at H in Fig. 7 the corner will spring into the groove H and help to hold the cover; one cover may be soldered in.

As the majority of people are right handed, I have shown in the drawings the location of a press-button switch or controller J on the left hand cover G, so that the left hand may readily grasp the writingtablet and hold it in any desired position and at the same time operate and control the lighting device by the thumb, pressing directly on controller J as shown in Fig. 2, or sliding the slide K (of familiar form in electric lighting devices of thia. character) over the controller J to hold it down as long as the slide remains there.

The writing pads or tablets D may be paper pads, or loose sheets attached to the support B by placing them under the leather or other corner pieces or clips L as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pocket or recess open at M providing a receiver for the notes, memoranda and extra sheets. A pair of leather loops P for holding the pencil are provided as shown.

In Fig. 3 a different shape of battery case C is shown the battery B being elliptical in section, and the case having a flat base in continuation of the back B In Fig. 4 the pad-support B? leaves an interval beneath the battery case C and being resilient grasps and holds therein the head of the thick pad D as shown and the pencil holding loops P being located as shown.

In Fig. 5 the battery case C has one or more short spring arms or back pieces 13 for use with stiff pads l) and of design as shown, to allow the pad being thrust into place and clipped resiliently between such back B and the battery case C In all the forms shown the writing pad or tablet proper is readily removable and readily inserted into place and when in place is securely on the tablet support in position to be illuminated by the lamp E.

It will be seen that in my improved writing tablet many features are combined some of which may of course be omitted if desired. For example the writing surface may be celluloid or porcelain or other preparation.

It will be seen that my illuminated writing pad is especially serviceable for use beside the bed at night or when traveling in the dark. In operating it is only necessary to take it in the hand, conveniently pressing the controller J, and thereby turning on the light and illuminating the writing face. At the same time the pencilmay be drawn out with the writing hand and used in inscribing notes, data, sketches and other matter upon the writing surface. If a pad or detachable sheets are used, each sheet when filled with notes or finished may be removed and placed in the note receptacle M, exposing a. new writing surface, as will be readily understood. If a. small press button controller J is used without a slide, the

having interior flanges projecting within said wall which are embraced and held thereby.

2. As an article of manufacture, a writing tablet provided with a tablet support, a battery case, a battery, an electric lamp, and a. manual controller therefor, said support and battery case comprising a piece of sheet material which extends continuously from the back or support around the battery and embraces the battery, forming a wall of the battery case,'and one or more sheet metal covers fitting said wall and secured thereto by resilient action between the wall and the covers.

3. As an article of manufacture, a writing tablet combining a tablet support, a battery, a battery case, and an electric lighting device, and in which the battery case has an end cover having a flange H adapted to project into the interior of the case, the case also comprising a piece of sheet metal which embraces and holds the battery and the said flange of the cover and is extended from the casing to form the back support of the tablet.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses: this 23d day of October, 1912.

THOMAS ROBIN S.

Witnesses:

A. M. GILLIGAN, FRANCIS A. STANTON. 

